Best Cupcake Recipes

CUPCAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and fill a 12 cupcake tray with cases.
• Using an electric whisk beat 110g softened butter and 110g golden caster sugar together until pale and fluffy then whisk in 2 large eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
• Add ½ tsp vanilla extract, 110g self-raising flour and a pinch of salt, whisk until just combined then spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases.
• Bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
• To make the buttercream, whisk 150g softened butter until super soft then add 300g icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
• Whisk together until smooth (start off slowly to avoid an icing sugar cloud) then beat in 3 tbsp milk.
• If wanting to colour, stir in the food colouring now. Spoon or pipe onto the cooled cupcakes.

CUPCAKE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat shortening and butter until light and fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla; beat until smooth.

ALMOND CUPCAKE WITH SALTED CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 cupcake cups with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
• In a mixing bowl, thoroughly cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of margarine until very well blended. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly combined, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, in several additions. Spoon the batter into the prepared cupcake cups, filling them about 2/3 full.
• Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make caramel, Place the brown sugar, 1/2 cup margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla into a large saucepan over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes; remove from heat and allow to cool to warm (not hot) temperature. Add the cream, a little at a time, until the caramel has the consistency of honey. Mix in the pinch of salt, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Beat the salted butter with confectioners' sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is fluffy; slowly add and beat in the caramel, a tablespoon at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth.

CUPCAKE CONES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. , Place ice cream cones in muffin cups. Spoon about 3 tablespoons batter into each cone, filling to 3/4 in. from the top., Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks. Frost and decorate as desired.

SALTED CARAMEL CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F in a convection oven). Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners (24 regular size or 48 mini size).
• Using a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the sour cream, baking soda, salt and eggs until combined. Scrape out the insides of the vanilla bean. Add the vanilla and granulated sugar to the egg mixture. Mix until combined.
• In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with 1 cup water. With mixer set to a low speed, alternate adding the water and butter, with the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue mixing until well combined.
• Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full with the batter. Bake until golden brown and baked through, 22 minutes for regular size and 16 minutes for mini size. Cool the cupcakes completely. Frost with the Caramel Buttercream Frosting. Garnish if desired.
• Using a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the butter and beat until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until fully incorporated and smooth. Reduce the speed and add the powdered sugar a little at a time. Mix until fully incorporated. Add the caramel sauce to the buttercream mixture.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE CONES

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix according to package directions; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth; stir in chocolate chips. , Place ice-cream cones in muffin cups. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of cake batter into each cone; top with a rounded teaspoon of cream cheese mixture. Fill with remaining batter to within 3/4 in. of top. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean., In a small bowl, beat the shortening, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost tops of cooled cones and top with sprinkles.,

MYRON MIXON'S WORLD-FAMOUS CUPCAKE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat a smoker to 300˚F.
• Using poultry shears, remove the knuckle on each end of each chicken thigh bone. Then trim the excess fat off the skin and meat of each thigh until the pieces are 3 to 4 inches wide, leaving about 1/4 inch of excess skin at the edges of the meat. Apply the chicken rub evenly to both sides of the thighs.
• In the cupcake mold, place each thigh, skin side down, in an individual cup. Sit the mold in the baking pan, and pour the chicken broth into the pan, being careful not to pour it directly on top of the chicken. Place the pan in the smoker and cook, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove the baking pan from the smoker. Gently flip the thighs onto the baking sheet. Season the tops of the thighs with salt and pepper. Return the thighs to the mold cups, skin side up, and put the baking pan back in the smoker. Cook for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Put all the sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until thoroughly combined. In a medium pan over medium heat, warm the sauce until it is hot but not boiling. Set aside.
• Remove the pan from the smoker, and unmold the chicken thighs onto the baking sheet, skin side up. Brush the thighs lightly with the warm sauce. Place the baking sheet in the smoker and cook for 30 minutes to allow the sauce to caramelize into the chicken skin.
• Remove the baking sheet from the smoker, and serve the cupcake chicken immediately.

THE PERFECT YELLOW CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Make the White Buttercream: Put the sugar in a saucepan fitted with a candy thermometer and pour the water down the walls of the pan to moisten the sugar without letting sugar crystals wash up on the walls of the pan. Run your finger through the center making an X to allow the water to seep into the sugar if it hasn't already. Bring the sugar to a boil over high heat and continue cooking to the "softball" stage (234 degrees F.).
• Meanwhile, in a standing mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whip the egg whites to soft peaks and hold them on low speed until the sugar is ready. When the sugar syrup is has reached the softball stage, turn the mixer up to high and slowly pour the syrup down the side of the mixer. Let it continue to whip to cool down. When it's feeling somewhat cooled but still a little warm, start adding the butter a few pieces at a time until you have a smooth, whipped butter cream. Add the almond extract. Use right away or cover and chill. Re-warm or let sit out to warm up to room temperature to use.
• Make the Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a mixer with a whip attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue to cream. Gradually add the vanilla and eggs and mix in well. Sift together the dry ingredients; then mix into the butter mixture alternating with the milk. Pour batter into cupcake paper-lined muffin tins filling them 3/4 full. Bake until puffed and firm in the center and light golden brown on top, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool. (Freeze at this point, if necessary.)
• Decorate and Assemble the Cupcakes: Using a small spatula, frost the tops of the cooled cup cakes with the buttercream. Decorate each with a few pearls of fondant.
• Tie the cake pull charms to the ends of the ribbons.
• Arrange some of the cupcakes on the largest cake stand, leaving the center empty for the base of the next cake stand. Tuck some of the cake pull charms under some of the cupcakes, dangling the ribbons off the edge of the cake stand. Place the next cake stand in the center and repeat. Make as many tiers as you need. Finish the top with flowers, if you'd like.

CARROT CUPCAKE WITH CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 30 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Whisk flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, and salt together in a bowl. Beat white sugar, brown sugar, and eggs together in another bowl until light and creamy. Add oil to sugar mixture and beat until combined. Gradually stir flour mixture into sugar mixture until batter is just-combined; fold in carrots. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Beat cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition, until desired frosting consistency is reached. Beat 1 teaspoon cinnamon into frosting. Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes.

CANDY-TOPPED CUPCAKE CONES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Make cake batter as directed on box. Fill 12 cones about half full of batter. Stand cones in muffin pan. Refrigerate any leftover batter until ready to fill and bake remaining cones.
• Bake 21 to 26 minutes or until toothpick carefully inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Frost with frosting and decorate. Store loosely covered.

GEORGETOWN CUPCAKE'S CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Cupcakes:.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 baking cups and a second pan with 6 cups.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt on a sheet of wax paper.
• Beat the butter on medium speed until fluffy. Stop to add the sugar; beat on medium speed until well incorporated.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing slowly after each addition.
• Combine the vanilla extract and milk in a large liquid measuring cup.
• Reduce the speed to low. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, then gradually add 1/3 of the milk mixture, beating until well incorporated. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture, followed by 1/3 of the milk mixture. Stop to scraped down the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining milk mixture, and beat until just combined.
• Add the cocoa powder, beating on low until just incorporated.
• Use a standard size ice cream scoop to fill each cupcake paper with batter, so that the wells are 2/3's full. Bake for 18-20 minutes (start checking at 15 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer the pans to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Ganache:.
• Lay a large piece of wax paper on the work surface.
• Combine the heavy cream and chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Fill a medium saucepan with an inch or two of water and place over medium-low heat. Place the bowl over the saucepan and let the mixture melt, stirring until it is shiny and smooth.
• Remove the bowl of chocolate ganache from the saucepan; let it cool slightly, for 2-3 minutes. Working with one cupcake at a time, carefully dip each cupcake top in the warm ganache, twisting your wrist as needed to make sure the cupcake top gets completely coated. To prevent drips, quickly turn the cupcake right side up and place on the wax paper. Allow the ganache to set for 5 minutes before serving.

PEANUT BUTTER FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners (for a total of 24 cupcakes).
• For the peanut butter filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth and fluffy. Beat in the granulated sugar. Beat in the vanilla and eggs, scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue to mix until smooth. Set aside.
• For the chocolate cupcake batter: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream 1 cup of the granulated sugar with the oil. Slowly add the vanilla extract and egg yolks to the creamed sugar while mixing, and beat until incorporated.
• In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar until firm peaks form. Do not over-whip.
• Turn the stand mixer on the lowest speed. Add the dry ingredients and milk, alternating between the two and scraping down the sides after each addition. Mix on medium for 1 minute. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped egg whites into the chocolate batter in three parts.
• Scoop one scoop of the chocolate cupcake batter into each cupcake liner. Top with one scoop of the peanut butter filling. The liners will be about two-thirds full. Bake until the cupcakes are nicely domed and the chocolate bounces back from gentle pressure, about 22 minutes; the peanut butter filling will not be firm. Remove from the pans and cool.
• For the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip the cream.
• Ice the cooled cupcakes with the frosting using a pastry bag fitted with the desired tip.

CUPCAKE BROWNIES

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes. , In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until blended. Beat in vanilla and chocolate mixture; gradually stir in flour and nuts. , Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool.

MILKY WAY® CUPCAKE ICING

Steps:

• Place candy bars, butter, milk and vanilla in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on High for 30 seconds; stir. Heat for an additional 10 seconds, remove the bowl from the mircrowave and stir again. Add confectioners' sugar and stir until smooth and creamy.

PULL-APART POOL CUPCAKE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners. Prepare the cupcakes according to the package directions. Transfer to cooling racks and cool completely.
• In a clean mixer bowl, combine 1 1/2 tubs of the frosting and about 1/4 teaspoon blue food coloring. Beat until smooth and no streaks remain, adding more color if needed to make a light blue frosting.
• Dollop a tiny bit of blue frosting on the bottom of the liner of one of the cupcakes (this will help anchor it to the serving tray), then dollop a generous amount on top of the cupcake. Anchor the cupcake to a serving tray large enough to hold all 24 cupcakes. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes, arranging them in a 4-by-6 cupcake grid with the edges touching.
• Using an offset spatula, smooth the blue frosting across the tops of the cupcakes, adding more as necessary, so it appears as 1 layer and the individual cupcakes are no longer visible. Smooth the remaining blue frosting on the sides to cover the cupcakes but not the liners.
• Put the remaining 1 1/2 tubs white frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe the outline of a rectangle in white (about 5 by 7 inches) closer to one short edge of the cupcake grid to make the pool. Pipe around the outline of the rectangle all the way to the edges of the cupcake grid with white, leaving the inside of the pool blue. Smooth the white frosting with an offset spatula.
• For the decorations: Arrange a row of blue candy-coated chocolates on the white frosting around the perimeter of the pool, then arrange another row of blue candy-coated chocolates around the outer perimeter of the cupcake grid. Fill in between the 2 blue rows with rows of white candy-coated chocolates to make the pool deck. Chill the cake 30 minutes to set the frosting inside the pool.
• Meanwhile, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in the blue gelatin until dissolved. Combine a mixture of water and ice in a measuring cup to make 1/2 cup. Stir into the dissolved gelatin until the ice melts. Chill the gelatin mixture while the cake chills. After 30 minutes, pour the gelatin into the pool. Chill until completely set, about 2 hours.
• Cut 2 strips of sour candy belt, each slightly larger than a graham bear, to make beach towels. Lay 1 bear on each towel and arrange them to relax by the pool. Add a drink umbrella over each to shade them from the sun.
• Cut the candy necklaces open where they tie to make 2 long strips. Cut 2 strips the same size as the length of the pool and arrange them over the gelatin for lanes. Gently pull out and discard the strings, keeping the candies in straight lines. Arrange 3 bears around a jawbreaker in the pool to play a game of volleyball. Stick a bear in each gummy ring candy for floaties and add to the pool.
• Cut the chocolate chew into 4 pieces crosswise to make legs for the diving board. Cut a 1 1/2-inch piece from the white taffy and attach it to the legs to make a diving board. Set at the deep end of the pool and press a bear at the end, ready to dive in.
• Cut the green taffy into a rectangle a little larger than a bear. With the back of a paring knife, score lines in the taffy to resemble the puffy parts of a blow-up raft. Stick a bear on the raft and add him to the pool. Stick the remaining bears in the pool to hang out.

BBQ BACON CHEDDAR MEATLOAF CUPCAKE & MASHED POTATO FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and place on a paper towel. Allow to cool. Crumble into pieces.
• Add chopped onion to the reserved bacon drippings and sauté 3-4 minutes. Cool.
• Add turkey, breadcrumbs, cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, eggs, sautéed onions & crumbled bacon to a bowl and mix until combined.
• Spoon the meat mixture into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Let stand for 5 minutes before removing.
• While the meatloaf is cooking, make the mashed potatoes. Place potatoes in a pan; cover with water. Add pinch of salt, Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until tender. Drain. Put potatoes into a ricer for best results. Return potato to pan. Add heavy whipping cream and remaining ingredients; stir with a spoon to desired consistency. If they are not creamy enough for you, add up to 1/4 cup more cream or milk - although they need to be stiff enough to pipe on top.
• Put the potatoes into a pastry bag with a wide star tip and pipe the mashed potatoes on top of the meatloaf.

S'MORES BROWNIE CUPCAKE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 16 standard-size muffin cups with paper liners.
• Using a 1-tablespoon scoop with a spring release, scoop 1 tablespoon of brownie batter into the bottom of a prepared muffin cup. Stack 2 halves of a Godiva® Signature Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Mini Bar horizontally in the center of the cup, then cover with 2 more tablespoons of brownie batter. Repeat with the remaining 15 cups, or until the brownie batter is used up.
• Bake the brownie cupcakes for 22-25 minutes, or until set.
• Remove the brownie cupcakes from the oven and turn the oven to broil.
• Place a marshmallow upright on top of each cupcake, then return to the oven and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the marshmallows are soft and browned. Watch closely so the marshmallows don't burn.
• Remove the cupcakes from the oven and, using a clean spoon, gently press the center of each marshmallow straight down so the marshmallow spreads to cover most of the top of the cupcake.
• Remove cupcakes from the muffin tins and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Garnish each cupcake by gently pressing a graham cracker rectangle and a Godiva® Signature Dark Chocolate Mini Bar half through the marshmallow into the top of the cupcake.
• Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE PINATA CUPCAKE: HEART OF CHOCOLATE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 12-cup cupcake tins with paper liners.
• OPTION 1: If using prepared mix, in a medium bowl, whisk together the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs.
• OPTION 2: If making the cupcake batter from scratch, in a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and boiling water until the cocoa powder is completely dissolved. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, cocoa mixture, baking soda, salt and vanilla extract.
• Fill the cupcake cups halfway with batter.
• Bake for 18-21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating.
• Using a large piping tip, poke a hole in the center of each cupcake. Discard the scraps or save for another use. Fill each hole with the chocolate chips.
• Top each cupcake with chocolate frosting, a drizzle of chocolate, and a mini peanut butter cup.
• Enjoy!

GIANT CUPCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). If using a metal giant cupcake pan, thoroughly grease all sides and dust with flour, tapping to remove any excess. If using a silicone cake pan, there is no need to grease.
• Combine sugar and butter in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add in flour alternately with beaten eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Divide the mixture between the top and bottom giant cupcake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in the pan, then turn out to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool, frost and decorate as desired with your favorite frosting.

ROLLING STONES BROWN SUGAR CUPCAKE WITH COCONUT CUSTARD FILLING, SPICED RUM FROSTING AND CRACKED BROWN SUGAR BRITTLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 standard cupcake liners.
• Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl. Set the bowl aside.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, cream the brown sugar and margarine with the whisk attachment, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. In a small bowl or cup, combine 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water and the egg replacer and stir to dissolve the egg replacer. Add the egg replacer to the sugar and mix until combined.
• In a small bowl, combine the soymilk and vinegar and set aside.
• Turn the mixer speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients and the soymilk, alternating between the two, ending with the soymilk.
• Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake or until a toothpick inserted into each cupcake comes out clean, about 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• To assemble: With a plastic drinking straw or a small paring knife, make holes in the center of each cupcake. Squeeze the Coconut Custard Filling in the center of each cupcake until filled but not overflowing, about 1 tablespoon per cupcake. Pipe a dollop of Spiced Rum Frosting onto each cupcake and garnish with a few pieces of the Cracked Brown Sugar Brittle. This recipe was created by a contestant during a cooking competition. The Food Network Kitchens have not tested it for home use, therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepot, stir together 1 3/4 cups of the coconut milk and the sugar. Heat on medium-high until the mixture begins to bubble around the edges.
• In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/4 cup coconut milk and the cornstarch into a slurry. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the hot sugar mixture while whisking. Cook for 2 more minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Put the cooled Coconut Custard into a piping bag and cut 1/4-inch off the tip. Yield: 2 cups.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the margarine and shortening until completely combined. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure that all ingredients are mixed thoroughly. On low speed, slowly add the powdered sugar a little at a time. Add the cinnamon, allspice and cloves, and mix. Scrape the bottom of the bowl. Add the rum and mix to combine. Scrape the bottom of the bowl and mix on medium-high speed until all the ingredients are combined and the frosting is fluffy, about 2 minutes. Put the frosting into a pastry bag and cut 1/2-inch off the tip. Yield: 2 quarts.
• Ingredients and Directions
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, boil the sugar, corn syrup, 1/4 cup water and salt, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Place a candy thermometer into the pan and cook on medium heat until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F. Remove from the heat and stir in the baking soda and margarine. Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie sheet and quickly spread the hot mixture thinly on the sheet. Let the candy cool completely and break it into small pieces with your fingers.